Timer



Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,302

A. J. WOODFORD I TIMER Filed July 9, 1924 6 g WW Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. WOODFORD, OF NAMPA, IDAHO.

TIMER.

Application filed July 9,

This invention relates to improvements in gas engine timers and theprimary object of the invention is to provide a novel timer particularlyadapted for use with the Ford engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer having a rotarycam disk to take the place of the brush used in the ordinary timers.This cam disk is adapted to move a contact disk, to break the circuitinstead of completing the latter, which is the reverseof the usualtimers.

A further object is to furnish a timer including a thrust ball bearingadapted to roll between the smooth surfaces of the rotary cam disk andcontact disk; the contactdisk being yieldingly pressed against thisthrust hearing by a light spring, so that friction is reduced to aminimum.

Another object is to provide a structure in which the contact disk isintermittently moved oil" of the heads of the contact screws in astraight line and does not slip over nor rub the heads of the screws ina manner similar to the ordinary 'timer, Consequently there is nofriction or wear on the contact screws or points. This absence offriction prevents the formation of scale on the contact points and thusobviates the possibility of a short circuit.

A still further object is to furnish a timer of durable and inexpensiveconstruction.

\Vith the foregoing objects outlined and withother objects in view whichwill appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in thenovel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a portion of an engine with my improved timerattached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the improved timer.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a thimble forming part of the construction. I

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the thimble.

Fi 7 is a side view of the cam disk, whicfi may be attached to theordinary cam 1924. Serial No. 725,007.

shaft, in place of the ordinary timer brush, or be attached to anauxiliary cam shaft.

In the drawing 1 designates an ordinary Ford engine having the usualfront plate 2 through which the cam shaft 3 projects. This plate alsohas the ordinary forwardly projecting annular flange 4 which engages theusual timer casing. For the purpose of the present invention, the brushwhich is usually arranged on the front end of the cam shaft is removed,and a bevel gear 5 is fixed in its place by a nut 6 or the like.

The improved timer may be used with a lower casing 7 having acylindrical edge 8 adapted to fit into the flange 1 and this casing wellas the parts to which it is connected are held in place by the usualbolt 9, which ordinarily holds a timer casing on the plate 2 inposition. integral with an upwardly extending post 10 having bearings 11and 12 in which the shaft 13 is rotatably mounted. A bevel gear 1 1 isfixed on the lower end of the shaft and nies'l'ies with the gear 5, thepost 10 is enlarged as at 15, and has an upwardly extending annularflange 16. This flange 16 and the head 15 form a shallow oil cup, whichas shown in Fig. 4 is provided with a depression 17 which communicateswith a port 18 that leads the oil from the cup into the bearing 11.

The shaft 13 is reduced at 19 to provide an annular groove whichreceives asplit ring or washer 20. Resting on this washer, is the camdis; 21 which has a centrally disposed sleeve 22 fitting on the upperend of the shaft 13, and the cam disk is secured in position by a nut 23screwed on the upper end of the shaft. Due to this construction, the camdisk 21 rotates in unison with the cam shaft 3.

Arranged above the cam disk 21, is a thrust bearing disk 24 functioningas a cage for balls 25 which roll on the upper surface of the cam disk.

The flange 16. receives the lower edge of an ordinary timer shell 26which is provided in the usual manner with a plurality of contact pointsor screws 27 Arranged within the shell and resting upon the balls 25, isa contact disk 28 which, as the cam plate 21 is rotated, is raised fromand lowered towards the points 27 to break and make the circuit. hearrangement is such,

The lower casing is The head of.

LII

that the circuit is normally complete and is intern'iittently broken asthe cam disk rotates. This is contrary to the usual procedure.

The disks 24: and 28 are centered within the shell and maintained incontact by a thimble 29, which has a should r 3t) resting on the disk28. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the thimble 30 extends throughthe ring 2%, holding the same to center; and disk 28 held to center bythe inside of timer shell 26. The thimble No. 29 is held to center bydisk :28.

The thimble has an angular aperture 31 in its head to receive the squareshank 2-32 of a pin 33. This square shank also extends through a squarehole in the head of the shell 26 and consequently prevents the thimblefrom rotating. A coil spring 3i surrounds the pin and bears against theshell 26 and thimble '29, to force the contact plate 28 against thepoints 27.

The head 15 has an upwardly CXtQlltllilf-Q' arm 35 carrying a spring arm36 whch bears against the head of the pin 33 and holds the parts inposition. The shell, 26 has the usual arm 37 connected to the rod 38 bywhich the operator controls the. position of the timer points 27.

It is obvious, if desired, that the parts 5, 6, 7, s, 10, 11, 12, 13,14., 15, its, 1? and is may be omitted and the parts within the shellmay be arranged at the front end of the shaft 3. In such a case the cam21 will be mounted on shaft- 3 and casing 23 will be changes may be madein the details set forth without departing from the spirit of theinvention as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In a timer, a rotatable shaft, a shell associated wth said shaft andprovided with relatively fixed spaced contact points, a contact disknorn'lally engaging one of said points, means driven by the shaft forraising the disk out of contact with said points, a thimble bearingagainst said disk, a pin connecting the shell and thimble and fixedagainst rotation. and a spring surrounding the pin for forcing thecontact disk toward said points.

2. A timer including a lower casing adapted to be connected to anengine, a post extending upwardly from said casing and having anenlarged head. a rotatable shaft carried by the post, a shell connectedto said head, a cam disk fixed on the shaft and ar ranged within theshell, a .ball cage provided with balls resting on said disk, spacedcontact points lixed in the shell, a contact disk arranged in the shelland normally bearing against one of said points and resting on saidballs, a thimble extending into the contact disk and cage, a pinconnecting the thimble to the shell and preventing the thimhle fromrotating, and a spring surrounding the pin and hearing against saidthiinble.

3. A timer including a. rotatable shaft, a disc fixed on said shaft andhaving an outer cam surface, a ball cage having balls resting on the camsurface of said disc, a shell enclosing said disc and including anannular wall having spaced internal contact points thereon, a contactdisc arranged within the shell and normally resting upon one of saidpoints and upon said balls, means for preventing said contact disc fromrotating with said shaft, and resilient means for forcing the contactdisc toward said points.

In testimony whereof I hereunto altix my signature.

ARTHUR J. WOODFORD.

